Abstract: A power plant system is disclosed. The power plant system includes a combustor configured, a turbine configured to generate electricity, a heat exchanger and a steam turbine, a carbon capture system configured to remove at least a portion of carbon-based gasses from the flue gas downstream from the heat recovery steam generator, and a thermal storage system including a hot storage unit configured to store thermal energy at a hot temperature, the hot temperature greater than ambient temperature. The power plant is configured to operate in at least a first mode for storing thermal energy in the thermal storage system and a second mode for releasing the stored thermal energy from the thermal storage system and during the second mode, heat stored in the hot storage unit is transferred to the carbon capture system.

Abstract: A system for generating steam for industrial heat. The system may include a plurality of heat pump cycles in thermal communication with each other and in thermal communication with a steam generation cycle. The plurality of heat pump cycles may include first and second heat pump cycles. The first heat pump circulates a first a working fluid and includes a first heat exchanger. The second heat pump cycle circulates a second working fluid and includes a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger transfers heat from the first to the second working fluid. The second heat exchanger transfers heat to a third working fluid in the steam generation cycle.

Abstract: An impingement cooling device including a distributor plate, a manifold, and a heat spreader. The distributor plate includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a plurality of injection ports extending through the distributor plate from the first side to the second side, and a plurality of extraction ports extending through the distributor plate from the first side to the second side. The manifold is coupled to the distributor plate and includes a partition wall separating the plurality of injection ports and the plurality of extraction ports on the first side. The heat spreader at least partially covers an object to be cooled and includes a top surface configured to oppose the second side of the distributor plate. The heat spreader further includes a surface feature on the top surface configured to increase heat transfer therefrom.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for turbo-compression cooling. The system may be aboard a marine vessel. The system includes a power cycle and a cooling cycle. The power cycle includes a first working fluid, a waste heat boiler configured to evaporate the working fluid, a turbine, and a condenser. The condenser condenses the working fluid to a saturated or subcooled liquid. The cooling cycle includes a second working fluid, a first compressor configured to increase the pressure of the second working fluid, a condenser configured to condense the second working fluid to a saturated or subcooled liquid after exiting the first compressor, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The turbine and first compressor are coupled one to the other. The waste heat boiler receives waste heat from engine jacket water and lubricating oil from a ship service generator. The evaporator cools water in a shipboard cooling loop.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for turbo-compression cooling. The system may be aboard a marine vessel. The system includes a power cycle and a cooling cycle. The power cycle includes a first working fluid, a waste heat boiler configured to evaporate the working fluid, a turbine, and a condenser. The condenser condenses the working fluid to a saturated or subcooled liquid. The cooling cycle includes a second working fluid, a first compressor configured to increase the pressure of the second working fluid, a condenser configured to condense the second working fluid to a saturated or subcooled liquid after exiting the first compressor, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The turbine and first compressor are coupled one to the other. The waste heat boiler receives waste heat from engine jacket water and lubricating oil from a ship service generator. The evaporator cools water in a shipboard cooling loop.

Abstract: A turbo-compression cooling system includes a power cycle and a cooling cycle coupled one to the other. The power cycle implements a waste heat waste heat exchanger configured to evaporate a first working fluid and a turbine configured to receive the evaporated working fluid. The turbine is configured to rotate as the first working fluid expands to a lower pressure. A condenser condenses the first working fluid to a saturated liquid and a pump pumps the saturated liquid to the waste heat waste heat exchanger. The cooling cycle implements a compressor increasing the pressure of a second working fluid, a condenser condensing the second working fluid to a saturated liquid upon exiting the compressor, an expansion valve expanding the second working fluid to a lower pressure, and an evaporator rejecting heat from a circulating fluid to the second working fluid, thereby cooling the circulating fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus having first, second, and third chambers and a plurality of receiving channels is disclosed. The first chamber includes a device surface to be cooled. The second chamber has a first surface positioned opposite to the device surface to be cooled, the first surface including a plurality of jet openings adapted to spray a coolant on the device surface when the second chamber is pressured with the coolant. The third chamber is adapted to receive coolant that left the first chamber. Each of the receiving channels has a first end in the first chamber and a second end in the third chamber. Each of the receiving channels is adjacent to a corresponding one of the jet openings and is positioned to remove coolant dispersed into the first chamber by that jet opening.

Abstract: A thermal management system is integral to a battery pack and/or individual cells. It relies on passive liquid-vapor phase change heat removal to provide enhanced thermal protection via rapid expulsion of inert high pressure refrigerant during abnormal abuse events and can be integrated with a cooling system that operates during normal operation. When a thermal runaway event occurs and sensed by either active or passive sensors, the high pressure refrigerant is preferentially ejected through strategically placed passages within the pack to rapidly quench the battery.

Abstract: A turbo-compression cooling system includes a power cycle and a cooling cycle coupled one to the other. The power cycle implements a waste heat waste heat exchanger configured to evaporate a first working fluid and a turbine configured to receive the evaporated working fluid. The turbine is configured to rotate as the first working fluid expands to a lower pressure. A condenser condenses the first working fluid to a saturated liquid and a pump pumps the saturated liquid to the waste heat waste heat exchanger. The cooling cycle implements a compressor increasing the pressure of a second working fluid, a condenser condensing the second working fluid to a saturated liquid upon exiting the compressor, an expansion valve expanding the second working fluid to a lower pressure, and an evaporator rejecting heat from a circulating fluid to the second working fluid, thereby cooling the circulating fluid.

Abstract: A battery management system with thermally integrated fire suppression includes a multiplicity of individual battery cells in a housing; a multiplicity of cooling passages in the housing within or between the multiplicity of individual battery cells; a multiplicity of sensors operably connected to the individual battery cells, the sensors adapted to detect a thermal runaway event related to one or more of the multiplicity of individual battery cells; and a management system adapted to inject coolant into at least one of the multiplicity of cooling passages upon the detection of the thermal runaway event by the any one of the multiplicity of sensors, so that the thermal runaway event is rapidly quenched.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack. A combustor receives a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel. The fuel is oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow. A cathode air flow path extends between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes. An air preheater is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes. A cathode recuperator is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow. Water passing through a vaporizer is converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow and directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes.

Abstract: A system for monitoring parameters of an energy storage system having a multiplicity of individual energy storage cells. A radio frequency identification and sensor unit is connected to each of the individual energy storage cells. The radio frequency identification and sensor unit operates to sense the parameter of each individual energy storage cell and provides radio frequency transmission of the parameters of each individual energy storage cell. A management system monitors the radio frequency transmissions from the radio frequency identification and sensor units for monitoring the parameters of the energy storage system.

Abstract: An energy storage system having a multiple different types of energy storage and conversion devices. Each device is equipped with one or more sensors and RFID tags to communicate sensor information wirelessly to a central electronic management system, which is used to control the operation of each device. Each device can have multiple RFID tags and sensor types. Several energy storage and conversion devices can be combined.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and method utilize a fluidized bed of solid particles to collect concentrated solar thermal energy in a compact receiver. Once energy is absorbed, these very hot particles are stored in a containment vessel. Heat is transferred to an air or other fluid stream and the stream is directed to a power generator or other unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack. A combustor receives a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel. The fuel is oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow. A cathode air flow path extends between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes. An air preheater is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes. A cathode recuperator is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow. Water passing through a vaporizer is converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow and directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) is provided and includes a fuel cell stack (3), a cathode recuperator heat exchanger (33) adapted to heat an air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream, and an air preheater heat exchanger (39) which is adapted to heat the air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream.

Abstract: A system for monitoring parameters of an energy storage system having a multiplicity of individual energy storage cells. A radio frequency identification and sensor unit is connected to each of the individual energy storage cells. The radio frequency identification and sensor unit operates to sense the parameter of each individual energy storage cell and provides radio frequency transmission of the parameters of each individual energy storage cell. A management system monitors the radio frequency transmissions from the radio frequency identification and sensor units for monitoring the parameters of the energy storage system.

Abstract: A thermal management system is integral to a battery pack and/or individual cells. It relies on passive liquid-vapor phase change heat removal to provide enhanced thermal protection via rapid expulsion of inert high pressure refrigerant during abnormal abuse events and can be integrated with a cooling system that operates during normal operation. When a thermal runaway event occurs and sensed by either active or passive sensors, the high pressure refrigerant is preferentially ejected through strategically placed passages within the pack to rapidly quench the battery.

Abstract: An energy storage system having a multiple different types of energy storage and conversion devices. Each device is equipped with one or more sensors and RFID tags to communicate sensor information wirelessly to a central electronic management system, which is used to control the operation of each device. Each device can have multiple RFID tags and sensor types. Several energy storage and conversion devices can be combined.

Abstract: Relates to a process and apparatus that improves the hydrogen production efficiency for small scale hydrogen production. According to one aspect, the process provides heat exchangers that are thermally integrated with the reaction steps such that heat generated by exothermic reactions, combustion and water gas shift, are arranged closely to the endothermic reaction, steam reformation, and heat sinks, cool natural gas, water and air, to minimize heat loss and maximize heat recovery. Effectively, this thermally integrated process eliminates excess piping throughout, reducing initial capital cost.